Lt. Governor Joins Communities Against Underage Drinking
Lt. Governor Aiona participated in two community town hall meetings in Kalihi and Lana`i last week to heighten awareness of the public health dangers of underage drinking and discuss preventative steps that can be taken by parents, community leaders and concerned citizens.
The Lt. Governor gathers with community advocates during a town hall meeting for the Kalihi community.
Research has shown that underage drinking is approximately six times more likely to kill young people than all other illegal drugs combined.
"Underage drinking is a major public health concern that affects all of us," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "Ending underage drinking is everyone's responsibility."
The Hawai`i Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking is coordinating 12 town hall meetings throughout the state to address underage drinking as part of Alcohol Awareness Month in Hawai`i.
Last week, the Lt. Governor announced the State will use a $10.45 million federal grant to prevent and reduce underage drinking in Hawai`i. The grant, obtained in 2006 from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will be utilized for the effort through 2011. The State will provide the focus and direction of the project through a statewide underage drinking plan that will be released in the coming weeks.
Additionally, the Lt. Governor announced the State is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to launch a radio campaign, alerting parents to the "use and lose" law that allows the State to suspend or delay a driver's license for anyone under age 21 who buys, possesses, transports or consumes alcohol.
The Lt. Governor said the public-private partnership with MADD-Hawai`i "brings new resources and energy to curb underage drinking in Hawai`i," which leads the nation in the percentage of alcohol-related traffic deaths.
Research has shown that underage drinking can cause serious, lifelong consequences, including violence; accidents and unintentional injuries; unplanned sexual activity; poor school performance and family relations; suicide; and criminal activity.
"Underage drinking creates serious personal, social and economic consequences for young people, their families, communities and the state as a whole," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "And we must continue our broad and sustained outreach efforts to address it."
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The Lt. Governor addresses community |
